Manual locking control mechanism



y ,1950 c. A. ARENS 2,509,202

MANUAL LOCKING CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Aug. 9, 1945 Patented May 30, 1950 UNITED STATES i AT E NT I OFFICE MANUAL'LOCKING CONTROL MECHANISM vCharles re s, GHi a Q El Application August 9, 1945,";Serial N o.":609,'82

Claims.

' ment thereof.

It is an object of the invention to provide a control mechanism :of thetype defined of improved and simplifiedconstruction and improved operating characteristics.

More specifically stated, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved control mechanism, of the typedefined, presenting a simplified construction which -may be readily assembled at 710W cost and with minimum machining opera- "tions; and wherein the control structures may be smoothly and freely actuated when in unlocked position while being readily actuatable to *lockedposition wherein there is provided anzeffective locking 'action of either substantially -positive locking :efiectiveness, or other predeter- -mined frictional resistance to movement, as may be desired.

A further object of the invention'is toprovide a control mechanism of the type defined including an improved and simplified locking-mechagnism which is reliable and invariable in its locking action, and of the self-holdingtype regard- 'lessof vibration orthe-like to which the structure 7 may h bi ed- Another object of the-invention is to provide,

4 in acontrol and locking mechanism of the type defined, an improved handle structure and arrenew v A still further obj ect of the invention is to provide in a control and locking structure of the "type setforth, an-improved structural arrangenient of parts incorporating a deformable element-such, for example, as asprlng or-block-of I compressible material, for effecting the locking 'iunctions. ".Various other objects a'dvantages' and features of the'invention-will be'apparentfrom the follow- I ing specil lcation when taken in connection with th accompan ing d w n s, w er i ain p ferredembodiments are set forth for purposes of i lu t on,- 1

ilnrthe d awin ..wh e :e l ke r ence umers s e s tqlikegpa ts hroughou Fi ,1 isa ene a ass mbly vie Q a qn tinsta la on ncqlpcna 'n a c r m c n aconst u ti -acc rd qe wit snd embod i ,the principles of thei rentiqn;

2 .is arlongilil Qilial,sectiOQQd View Qf cont ol mechanism o on s n sx e scale;

rFug. o. 3 -.is .a transverse sectional View Poi th :structuresof-Fig. v2, taken as indicated hythe line thereof, and ,drawn ,on a further enla ge wscaletoshorv-thedetails.ofgconstruction;

Fig. gt ,a detail perspective ,ViEW of "the loci;- ns eme as nsem a inlihs emer ed Fi 5 is a came lon tudina s ct s s svisw. si ilar to E s- 2, bu ,il ii imt i a m di ed m ,pflockin e e nt; r

Ei i t lon itudi al sectien lxiewmals s mila i i b till nst ne nths Lmti sdi r lo kin Q -hQl inel-slsment;

f? i an enlarg d trans e se se t na cie of the structure of Fig.s6,,on,the. lin e 'l llther e- Di; 52mg can ezmlqds see -sp ctre ,visw stati s ain s the ce es i sqrm ts in,l

structure of Figs. 6 and 7.

Ee smne mer s cifical y ,to the drawings, nd first-will si u u ie r ni s imsnt il ustrate n Figs! H thers r urs s wn -vcoming. ssss a control ..mech, ni m. ene al y ndi ate ,by t e :numeral xiii, associated with ,an elongated transm ss cn cable i2, and adapted forjthesaqqtuat p @Qf controlled device the ,form vof a pivoted ,lever ,as indicatedr at is, associatedv anmsuitable manner with the unit ,or mechanisms .to [be actuated. More.specifical1y, .the flexible transwm' sion cable vcomprises a core hwire, l tqdispo s ed Within a em ra in swim soi h Thes -J n- 2 bsin -s tee ei r qrm e s e d -m ab w thin a s s pn s hsst @91 ii h ss' nt'r mechanism ;'I0, ,presentlygbe described, is-associated with the shiftable transmission cable fit-size in a manner s0 as to eifectsthejlongitudianal reciprocation thcreof through predetermined :iimits; under control oie'themanualcOntrol'handle 12201" the control mechanism; and further in- .tludesprovisions for docking the transmission cable and resultingly the operated member M in any selected position of adjustment, upon a suitable rotation of --themanual controlhandle or member. Itis to be understood that the control installation, as shownin Fig. I l, is set forth-for il- -lustrative purposes only, and that the control mechanism of the invention is adapted for use in any control installation wherein 'an operated device is r to be actuated ;or adjusted within-predetermined limits, and selectively locked in ad- ,ius sd ,ipos qn iii- 9Prei ne ,r e L .ms menta msrbe require spline groove.

Referring more specifically to the control mechanism, as best shown in Fig. 2, the mechanism comprises a frame sleeve 24 rigidly mounted, as by means of lock nuts 23 and 28, upon a suitable support structure 30, which may, for example, be the dashboard of a vehicle or the like. As shown, the lock nuts 26 and 28 engage the threaded end portion of the frame sleeve, and embracingly clamp the support panel. The end of the frame sleeve is connected to the fixed sheath 20 of the transmission cable structure, by suitable means such, for example, as a bracket or fitting 32.

Longitudinally reciprocable within the housing or frame sleeve 24, is an operating member in the form of a sleeve member 34 of elongated tubular construction. One end of the sleeve 34 is threaded as indicated at 36, this threaded end of the sleeve having rotatable threaded engagement with the hub portion 38 of the manual control handle 22. A compression spring 40 is ar ranged to bear between the end of the sleeve and a shoulder surface 42 of the handle member,

whereby to apply suificient tension to the threaded connection between the sleeve and handle, so as to prevent inadvertent or free handle rotation relative to the operatin sleeve, inwardly or to the right as seen in Fig. 2.

The opposite end of the sleeve 34 is rigidly connected to the shiftable cable elements Iii-I8, by

suitable means such, for example, as swedging or the like.

Within the operating sleeve 34 there is disposed a control member 48 in the form of an elongated shaft or rod. The shaft or rod 48 is' loosely or fioatingly mounted within the operating sleeve, one end of the rod being seated within or abutted against a socket wall portion of the control handle, as indicated at 50. The opposite end surface 52 of the control rod is arranged to abuta locking element 54, whereby to control the actuation and movements thereof. More specifically, and as shown in the embodiment of Figs. 1-4, the locking element 54 is in the form of a deformable element, and specifically is in the form of a fiexure spring, the detailed shaping of which is best illustrated in Fig. 4. As shown, the spring is in general U-shaped being provided with a bight portion 56 and end portions 58 and B0. The spring end 58 is adapted to be abutted by the end surface 52 of the control rod. The spring end 50 is seated within a shallow notchor socket 62 provided in the internal wall of the operating sleeve.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the spring bight portion 56, extends through an elongated slot or opening 64 in the operating sleeve 34, the bight portion extending upwardly into a spline or groove 66 running longitudinally of the fixed frame sleeve 24. Normally, when the parts are not in locked condition, the spring extends upwardly into the spline and between the side walls thereof,

but does not engage the top or base wall of the When the parts are in this position, as shown in Fig. 3, it will be seen that by reason of the fact that the spring extends through the slot 64 of the operating sleeve, and also into the spline groove of the fixed frame sleeve, the operating sleeve is thereby held from rotation. The operating sleeve, however, is not locked from longitudinal movement inasmuch as the spring is not seated against the spline base wall portion. Accordingly the operating sleeve 34 may be freely longitudinally actuated, by pushing or pulling upon the control handle 22, whereby to impart corresponding longitudinal increments of movement to the transmission cable I6-I8. During such movement the shaft 48 and spring 54 move as a unit with the operating sleeve 34, the entire assembly being freely longitudinally shiftable within the fixed frame sleeve.

The sleeve 34, and resultingly the operated mechanisms connected for operation thereby, may be locked in any position within their range of travel by imparting a predetermined rotational movement to the manual control handle. More particularly, as the handle 22 is rotated, its threaded engagement with the non-rotatable operating sleeve causes the handle to be longitudinally translated, as a nut, in respect to the sleeve as the rotational movement is applied. This longitudinal translation of the handle in respect to the sleeve 34 causes a corresponding longitudinal movement to be imparted to the rod 48, relative to the sleeve, whereby to compress the fiexure spring, one end of which is engaged by the rod and the other end of which is seated within the sleeve depression 62, as previously described. As compression is imparted to the spring, the bight portion 56 thereof is forced upwardly into seated engagement Within the base of the spline groove 66 of the fixed frame sleeve, thereby forcing the operating sleeve downwardly in respect to the frame sleeve, producing frictional contact between the operating and frame sleeves at the point indicated by the reference numeral 68, locking the operating sleeve in longitudinally fixed position. Reverse rotational movement of the control handle releases the tension in the resilient fiexure spring which upon return to normal 0r unlocked position frees the operating sleeve for longitudinal movement.

It will thus be seen that a control mechanism is provided, of simplified construction, which may be readily fabricated and assembled. When the parts are unlocked, the operating sleeve 34, together with the control rod 48 and the fiexure spring, is smoothly and freely shiftable within the fixed frame sleeve, under control of the handle 22. By rotation of the control handle, in any longitudinal position of the parts, the operating sleeve and elements connected thereto may be selectively locked in position, and unlocked, as may be required. Various degrees of locking may be imparted, depending upon the degree of rotation imparted to the control handle, which in turn determines the degree of tension and distortion imparted to the deformable spring element. The maximum desired locking tension may be limited by the adjustable positioning of the stop nut 44, which determines the maximum possible longitudinal translation of the control handle relative to the operating sleeve. Ordinarily it may be esirable to vary the locking tension between full locking and complete unlocking by a partial rotation of the control handle. This, however, is determined by the pitch of the screw threaded connection between the handle and the sleeve 34, and by the characteristics of the spring 54, which may be selected as desired. A relatively fine pitch of the threads 36 is preferred so asto insure that theilocking mechanism @Will {he self,- holding when actuated -to locked position, and :after the operator removes vhis hand from the controlahanclle. In this connection it will ibe seen dihat the spring tension .of1the spring 54 acts as .a. resilient pressure means vfOI' preventing inadvertent rotation or loosening of the-control'hanxilerupon the threaded end of the sleeve, due, 4 .0 ivibration or the like. As previously stated, the compression spring ill acts to hold the handle member from inadvertent rotationidue-vto vibration, when the locking action of the Sp ing released.

As previously indicated, the spring '56 is at all times projected between the side walls of the spline :56, whereby to hold theloperati-ng sleeve 534 :from rotation, both when the structure is lockedior unlocked. By this means it is-insured :that the .rod. 48 will be properly projectedplongitudinally in respect'to the operatingsleeve 34, uponrotation of the control handle, the sleeve being continuously heldzfrom inadvertent .rotaztiomainsuring a properbasestructure upon which 'thecontrol handlemay he threaded as it is turned. -Aerel-ialole and -invariable docking action is i thus iinslired.

iln Fig. fianemhodiment islillustratedvgenerally similar-to that previously described,r except that dnsthis-instancd the :locking spring, as indicated -at: 54a, is provided with-a relatively sharply bent -port-ionflllwhichacts as avmeans for limiting the :i build-ing up of further tension in "the spring after such tension hasbeenrbiui-lt up to apredetermined amount. .-More particularly, the. bent portion 116 will yield vafter .apredeterr'nined .,=up ward thrust has 1 been impartedito the spring por- :tion $5.601, 7 after therodx-8a has: been. projected ,a predetermined distance; so that should therpd be further projected no substantially ,greater -.spring;tension will bezapplied. -By. this means :the 1 .s'pringtension is sensitiyeato rotation of thereon.-

tmhhandle only-to a. predetermined :value. .Such an .arrangement, ilimiting the: maxi-mum, locking action, may in certain instances -,b e .desir 1e. 'Ohviouslythe-stop nut, -as :inclicateda fiii --mayon may not beemployed as-desired.

--:In:Figsrfi-Sa further embodiment of the invention is. illustrated employing; a .as-pecificallyi er.-

ent. deformable locking element, the filernent iii'bleemateria-l Sll0h,5f0r example, as r ub :"like. More specifically, :thellO.. ,i' I?0l 119 ecated lat z ifib is in this instance -provided.- Y

threaded extension i .zwhieh is :threadr dc M12943 .:p"1unger block" :1 4, the plunger-{block member bei -:=.thereby rigidly mounted-up n the", end of the @controL rod. :Plungemmember 1 is a rariged to e g -seagainsta rubber bloel; thawin :section substantially similar ;to that of UN s plunger, @the uppermost portions of the plunger o-andrubber: block :being projectedth ough ngitudinal slotzfibgformed in-the operating sleeve =:3:4b. .-As best shown-insFig;7,;theplungenmemr ber .and block are continuously projected be- --tween--;the side walls ofva :splin 16Gb torrnegl dshe'fixed frame sleeve; 24]), similar tothemanner tire to she emanatin sleeve 1:3 .22 block '16 comntesssd to thru i c .pn r 0 -tion of -.the;b1.9Q Q rev n i Ofxthfi .;,frame; s 1.eeYe s line 512, whereb t r nti y en a e, the o eratin and fr me .sleeres at he :poin e681 lo kin the o e t n s e e :fr m mov ment- .inblockrmsmber ,as indiqa al' as, :is anchored ,within the bore of th eo erahn sleeve, asshown in Fla 1 9 .p qlid a sf i e 11 tion base ;;for-tl 1e end L wall of the rubber block member. :ltlis believedxthatrthe mode of opera;- tion of the structure .of "Figs. #6718 wi1l=be c1 at from what ;has heretofore been pointed .Qllt respect to :the operation .of the structure .of iEigs. :1-4.

To iaci-litateiassembly Jof the parts, it .will be seen that theislotiflb-is provided withra'widened portion, as indicated atBO. The plunger ibloek 'l l may be introduced into the operating sleeve throug' h this widened slot portion, e and then asisembled onto the endof-the' rod 48b. It is obvious that variouschanges may be made in the specific embodiments shown and described vvi thout departing-from the spirit of the invention? Theiinvehtionis accordingly not to be limited to the specific embodiments illustrated, pet only as indicatddn thidllbvv'irig claims.

" Tn'e'iri r'it iris hereby'claimd as renews:

1 membershinab e 't to the frame member' fand 'adapted' td' be connected toa' deviceto be controlled; 'acgntrm lian'dle operatively "cofin" "ted' 'to the operating m 'ber for'contrbllin ovements, enamel;- f ng means congi'pris'ing a deformable making ele- 'ment separate "from" the "operating "member for e're ieip snqn i men e as control handle relative to the operating member. A A control mechanism comprisingfairain e 'control handle operatively connected to the opmember, an operating member shiftable in respect to the frame member and adapted to ,be

connected to a device to be controlled, a control handle operatively connected to the operating member for controlling its movements, a control member shiftable with the operating member and also shiftable relative thereto upon a-rotary movement of the control handle, and locking -means comprising a deformable sheet metal looking element actuated by the relative shifting of the operating member and control member for locking the operating member from shifting in respect to the frame member.

6. A control mechanism comprising a fram member, an operating member shiftable in respectto the frame member and adapted to be connected to a device to be controlled, a control handle operatively connected to the operating -member for controlling its movements, a control member shiftable with the operating member and also longitudinally shiftable relative thereto upon a rotary movement of thefcontrol shifting of the shiftable sleeve and control member for locking the shiftable sleeve from movement in respect to the frame sleeve.

8. A, control mechanism comprising a frame sleeve, a shiftable sleeve longitudinally shiftable within. the frame sleeve, a control handle operatively connected to said shiftable sleeve for controlling its movements, a control member within the shiftable sleeve movable therewith and also shiftable relative thereto upon a rotary movement of the control handle, and locking means comprising a deformable locking element actuated by the relative shifting of the shiftable sleeve and control member for locking the shiftable sleeve from movement in respect to the frame sleeve.

9. A control mechanism comprising aframe sleeve, a first control member in the form of a shiftable sleeve longitudinally shiftable within the frame sleeve, a control handle operatively connected to said shiftable sleeve for controlling its movements, a second control member Within the shiftable sleeve movable therewith and also shiftable relative thereto upon a rotary movement of the control handle, said control handle having screw threaded connection with one of said control members, and locking means comprising a deformable element actuated by the relativeshifting of the control handle in respect to its screw connected control member for lock- 'ing'the shiftable sleeve from movement in respect to the frame sleeve.

10. A control mechanism comprising a frame member, an operating member shiftable in respect to the frame member and adapted to be connected to a device to be controlled, a control handle directly connected to the operating member for controlling its movements, a control member shiftable with the operating member and also shiftable relative thereto upon a rotary movement ofthe control handle, and locking means comprising a deformable element radially adjustable in respect to the axis of movement of the operating member and actuated by the relative shifting of the operating member and control member for locking the operating member from shifting in respect to the frame member, and means for holding said deformable element in the same angular position in respect to the axis of movement of the operating member during the operation of the control mechanism.

11. A control mechanism comprising a frame sleeve, a shiftable sleeve longitudinally shiftable within the frame sleeve, a control handle operatively connected to said shiftable sleeve for controlling its movements, a control member within the shiftable sleeve movable therewith and also shiftable relative thereto upon a rotary movement of the. control handle, and locking means comprising a deformable element radically adjustable in respect to the axis of movement of the shiftable sleeve and actuated by the relative shifting of the shiftable sleeve and control member for locking the shiftable sleeve from movement in respect to the frame sleeve, and means for holding the deformable element in fixed angular position in respect to the axis of movement of said shiftable sleeve during the rotary movement of the control handle.

12. A control mechanism comprising a frame sleeve, a shiftable sleeve longitudinally shiftable withinthe frame sleeve, a spline for holding the shiftable sleeve from rotary movement, a control handle operatively connected to said shiftable sleeve for controlling its movements, a control member within the shiftable sleeve movable therewith and also shiftable relative thereto upon a rotary movement of the control handle, and locking means comprising a deformable element projected through the shiftable sleeve into engagement with the frame sleeve and actuated by the relative shifting of the shiftable sleeve and control member for locking the shiftable sleeve from movement in respect to the frame sleeve.

13. A control mechanism comprising a frame sleeve, an operating sleeve shiftable within the frame sleeve and adapted to be connected to a device to be controlled, a spline connection between the operating sleeve and frame sleeve for holding the operating sleeve from rotary movement, a control handle threadedly connected to the operating sleeve for controlling its movements, a control shaft within the operating sleeve movable therewith and also longitudinally shiftable relative thereto upon a rotary movement of the control handle, and locking means comprising a deformable element projected through the operating sleeve by the relative shifting of the operating sleeve and the control member into engagement with the frame sleeve for locking the operating sleeve from movement in respect to the frame sleeve.

14. A control mechanism comprising a frame member, an operating member shiftable in respect to the frame member and adapted tobe connected to a device to be controlled, a control handle operatively connected to the operating member for controlling its movements, and locking means comprising a sheet metal member forming a deformable fiexure spring for locking the operating member from movement in respect to the frame member, said sheet metal member being shiftable with the control handle and being operable to locking position by a rotary movement of said control handle.

15. A control mechanism comprising a frame member, an operating member shiftable in respect to the frame member and adapted to be connected to a device to be controlled, a control handle operatively connected to the operating member for controlling its movements, and looking means comprising a block of resilient compressible material forming a deformable locking element for locking the operating member from movement in respect to the frame member, said 20 deformable locking element being shiftable with the control handle and said locking means being operable to locking position by a rotary movement of said control handle.

CHARLES A. ARENS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Number Name Date 1,171,845 Heaslet Feb. 15, 1916 1,559,306 Berkman Oct. 27, 1925 2,205,987 McCarthy June 25, 1940 2,262,448 Boyce et a1. Nov. 11, 1941 2,295,731 Groves Sept. '15, 1942 2,319,041 Crouse May 11, 1943 2,329,932 Nelson Sept. 21, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 502,490 Great Britain Mar. 20, 1939 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,509,202 May 30, 1950 CHARLES A. ARENS It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 8, line 30, for radically read radialh v and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflioe.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of November, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

